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Financial Assistance programs

Here
are some of the announced assistance programs. Other creditors
including credit card companies, lenders and loan servicers also have
assistance options available. It is better to request help before
missing payments.

Bank of America: The bank’s Client Assistance Program is offering personalized financial assistance and can be reached at 844-219-0690.

Chase: The bank announced its efforts to help its customers who are U.S. government employees on Dec. 22 and is encouraging customers to call a special care line at 888-356-0023 to discuss available hardship programs. The help also is available for customers who do business with a federal agency that is also affected, Chase said in a statement.

Discover: Impacted
federal workers who are Discover cardmembers or have a loan with
Discover Bank may be eligible for assistance such as skipping a payment
and having late fees and interest charges reversed if they miss a
payment because of the shutdown. To request assistance, call
800-347-2683.

Navy Federal Credit Union: Impacted
union members who have direct deposit of their government pay may be
eligible for interest-free loans. Government contractors may be eligible
if their direct deposit is received directly from the federal
government and will be impacted by a government shutdown.

PayPal: PayPal will provide up to $25 million in interest-free cash advances to help federal workers going without pay during the partial government shutdown make ends meet.

U.S. Employees Credit Union: Impacted union members who have direct deposit of their government pay may be eligible for interest-free loans. According to its website, the Government Shutdown Loan is to be “repaid in 60 days or when the government processes back pay, whichever is sooner.”

Wells Fargo: The
bank says it “will work with individuals and business banking customers
whose income is disrupted as a result of the shutdown.” Customers
should call 1-800-TO-WELLS, or the number on their credit card, debit
card or statement for assistance, or visit any Wells Fargo branch.
Mortgage, loan, and credit customers may qualify for forbearance or
other payment assistance programs based on their individual
circumstances, the company posted on its website.

Unemployment benefits: According to a U.S. Office of Personnel Management fact sheet, federal employees may be eligible for “Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees,” which is administered by state unemployment insurance agencies. The fact sheet notes “the law of the state in which an individual’s official duty station in Federal civilian service is located will be the state law under which an individual’s eligibility for benefits is determined.”

Wireless providers

AT&T: Customers
affected by the shutdown are eligible for flexible payment options to
keep service including cellphones, television and internet running. Make
payment arrangements online at www.att.com.

Sprint: “Our
Care reps will coordinate with qualified customers and our financial
team to find a payment option that works and keep your service
uninterrupted during the government shutdown,” Sprint said in a statement. Impacted customers should call 888-211-4727 or do an online chat at www.sprint.com.

T-Mobile: Short-term
account assistance can be tailored to meet the needs of customers who
are federal workers, T-Mobile said, noting options include payment
deferral and “flexible payment options” that allow customers to spread
their service payments over time.” The company is also offering support
to government account customers. Customers can call T-Mobile Customer
Care to discuss options at 611 from a T-Mobile device or 877-746-0909
from any phone.

Verizon: The company announced flexible payment options and a “Promise to Pay” program that can be set up in the My Verizon app or website. Further assistance is available by calling 866-266-1445.

Community Phone: The
Boston-based company told USA TODAY it is offering furloughed, federal
employees in Massachusetts “a full contract free year of unlimited
everything” and “to all furloughed in all states, a free $100 of credit
for a no contract, no credit card required service on our nationwide
networks.” Learn more at www.communityphone.org.